A study by the Insured Retirement Institute (IRI) also found tax deferral is among the most important considerations when Baby Boomers, and particularly Boomers at middle-income levels, evaluate a retirement investment. “Our consumer research found that tax policy changes would have negative consequences for retirement savings, with about a quarter of middle-income Boomers likely to curtail their retirement savings if tax deferral is reduced or eliminated,” IRI President and CEO Cathy Weatherford said.

According to the January survey of Americans ages 50 to 66, 58% of middle-income Boomers are likely to cut back on retirement savings if income taxes are increased, 40% if Social Security payroll taxes are increased, and 29% if capital gains taxes are increased. Seventy-four percent of all Boomers consider tax deferral to be an important feature when selecting a retirement investment, and about one in five consumers cited tax-deferred growth as the primary reason for owning an annuity. Among middle-income Boomers, 77% said tax deferral is an important consideration when selecting a retirement product.